Indicator.



0. .F. RUSSELL.

INDICATOR. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, 1909.

Patented Jan. 18,1910.

ORION F. RUSSELL, 0F LAWRENCE, KANSAS.

INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 19, 1909.

Patented Jan. 18, 1910.

Serial No. 484,394.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORION F. RUssnLL, residing at Lawrence, in the county of Douglas and State of Kansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an indicator or sign designed for household use to enable the occupant of a house or apartment to indicate to a tradcsman the amount of a commodity to be left by the tradesman on his call.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, convenient and inexpensive device of this character which may be adjusted to indicate the amount or number of goods to be left and which may be suspended in position for ready observation by the visiting tradesmen.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a front elevation of an indicator embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a front View of the dial or rear disk. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the spring strip prior to application.

Referring to the drawing, my improved indicator or s1gn comprises a front or face card or plate 1, which is preferably square in form although it may be of any other suitable form, and is provided adjacent to and parallel with its upper edge with a trans verse observation opening or slot 2. The said card or face plate may be made of cardboard, metal or other suitable material and may bear thereon a name designatory of the character of the commodity sold by a particular tradesman.

Arranged in rear of the card or plate 1 is a rotary dial or disk 8 preferably circular in form and bearing upon its face portion adjacent to its periphery an annular series of numerals designed to register with and to be viewed through the slot 2. This dial is rotatably mounted upon a pivot pin or rivet 4C passing through central openings formed in the face card and dial and headed at each end to retain the parts in assembled condition. It will thus be understood that the dial 3 can be turned to bring any one of the numerals thereon into alinement with the slot 2 so as to indicate the amount of the goods or commodity in pounds or otherwise to be left by the tradesman. If desired, the face of the card or plate 1 may be provided at the right of the slot 2 with an O or cipher for cooperation with the numerals on the dial to indicate proper multiples of the same.

A spring metal strip 5 is perforated at one end, as shown at 6 for the passage of the rear end of the rivet 4, and bears against the rear face of the dial for a distance approximately equal to half its effective length. The upper end of the strip which projects vertically beyond the upper edge of the face card 1 is bent to provide a U-shaped clasp G to engage said upper edge of the card and has its free end bent rearwardly to provide a tongue 7 fitted in a slit 8 in the face card to retain the clasp firmly and securely in engaging position. The fold or bight of the clasp extends upwardly beyond the face card and forms a loop or eye 9 to receive and retain a ring or other suitable suspending device 10, by which the indicator may be suspended from a suitable support in position to be readily observed by the tradesman as he calls on his route. The spring strip serves two important functions, that of preventing warping or distortion of the cards or loosening of the same on the pivotal connection, and also as a means for holding the suspending device. Approximately the lower half of the strip bears against the dial, and its upper half below the clasp and between the same and the bearing portion is preferably rearwardly offset, as at 11, to permit the clasp to be conveniently formed without making a sharp bend or angle which will bear against the edge of the dial and wear the same and prevent the free movement thereof.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that my invention provides a sign or indicator which is simple and inexpensive of construction and by means of which a house holder may indicate to a visiting tradesman, calling at more or less inconvenient hours, the number or amount of goods or a com modity to be left on his visit, the convenience of which will be manifest. Of course, the indicator may be printed for use to order any character of goods from visiting tradesmen dealing in the same.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. An indicator of the class described comprising a face plate having an observation slot, a dial arranged in rear thereof and provided with indices to register with said slot, a pivot pin uniting the plate and dial and on which the latter is adapted to rotate, a spring strip secured at one end to the pin and bearing against the rear of the dial and having its opposite end bent to form a clasp engaging the edge of the face plate, and a suspending device held by said clasp.

2. An indicator of the class described comprising a face plate having an observa tion slot, a dial arranged in rear thereof and provided with a series of indices adapted to be exposed through the slot, a pivot pin uniting said plate and dial and on which 

